Chair construction



Dec. 18, 1951 H. H. CADMAN ETAL CHAIR CONSTRUCTION Filed May 1, 1948HAM) H. CAD/mm JOHN J 00cm? FIG. 3

/Z 24 24 INVENTORS.

A? TTOEA/EYS Patented Dec. 18, 1951 CHAIR CONSTRUCTION Harry H. Cadmanand John J. Ducey, Elkhart, Ind.

Application May 1, 1948, Serial No. 24,548

6 Claims. (01. 155-191) This invention relates to improvements infurniture. construction, and particularly to the construction of chairs,tables and other units, which are mounted upon legs or pedestals.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a novel furnitureconstruction characterized by light weight, great strength, stability byreason of weight concentration at the legs thereof, ready cleanability,fire resistance, and resistance to damage by cleaning agents anddisinfectants.

A further object is to provide a furniture construction formed ofsynthetic material of great tensile strength, such as molded or shapedfiber glass or other synthetic materials in the nature of thermoplasticresins or thermosetting plastics, or materials of this characterreinforced or filled with fibrous material, wherein the parts are shapedto be of desired contour and configuration for comfort and convenience,are reinforced where necessary, and are constructed to be securedtogether either by fusing of the parts or by the use of mechanicalinterlocks or by a combination of the use of mechanical interlocks andfused joints.

A further object is to provide a chair construction well adapted for useby children and especially suited, by virtue of the shape thereof, foruse by physically handicapped persons, to control posture when seatedand to facilitate assumption of a seated position thereon, and also tofacilitate rising therefrom.

A further object is to provide an article of furniture having a noveladjustable leg structure.

Other objects will be apparent from the following specification.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a rear elevational view of a chair with parts shown in sectionto illustrate the construction thereof.

Fig. 2 is a side view of a chair with parts show in section.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a chair. v

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the chair back support taken on line44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of a chair provided with an arm rest.

Referring to the drawing which illustrates the preferred embodiment ofthe invention as applied or embodied in a chair, the numeral designatesthe seat of the chair which mounts a backrest support I2 havin abackrest l4 secured thereto. The seat It! is mounted upon legs IS.

The seat ID is formed or shaped in desired size and 'configurationhaving a continuous panel 18 bounded by marginal flanges 20 dependingthere,- from. At the rear of the chair the flange Z0 is cut away at 22,as illustrated in Fig. 1.

The backrest support I2 is formed of an elongated member of thecross-sectional configura tion best illustrated in Fig. 4, characterizedby a wide plate portion from which a pair of longitudinal ribs 24project. The opposite margins of the backrest support are preferablyprovided with rearwardly projecting marginal flanges 26. Theconfiguration of the part I2 is best illustrated in Fig. 2, from whichit will be apparent that the same has a substantially horizontal portion28 shaped to conform with the contour of the bottom surface of the platel8 and of a length to extend substantially one-half the length of saidseat, that is, one-half the distance from the back to the front edge ofthe seat. The intermediate portion of the backrest support is bent at30, and the portion 32 of the backrest support which engages thebackrest I4 is reversely curved. The parts are so formed andproportioned that the backrest 14 preferably is located above andslightly forwardly spaced fromthe rear edge of the chair seat I!) tobear against the back of the user slightly above his hips and spacedbelow his shoulders. As best illustrated in Fig. 2, the portion 32 maybe somewhat tapered toward its upper end, although this is optional. Oneor more reinforcing plates 34 are fused, bonded or otherwise anchored tothe bottom surface of the chair seat panel l8. The portion 28 of thebackrest support is suitably secured to the reinforcing plate or plates34, preferably by bonding or fusing thereof; however, mechanicalinterlocking means between these parts may be provided as illustrated inFig. 2, said mechanical interlocking means comprising bolts having headportions 36 imbedded in the plates 34 and their shanks projectingtherebelow and passing through openings formed within the backrestsupport 28 so that nuts may be threaded upon said shanks and drawn tightfor anchorage purposes;

and comprises glass fibers which are bonded to-. gether by a suitableresin. Such material possesses great strength, resistance to impact,fire resistance and resistance to injury by cleaning and disinfectingmaterials. It will be understood that while the formation of this chairor other furniture parts from fiber glass is preferred, the parts may beformed of other material, such as molded or shaped thermosettingplastics or thermoplastic resins, used either in solid or pure form, orfilled with fibrous resinforcing material, such as paper pulp, cloth,threads or the like. The molding or shaping of the parts permits them toassume desired contours for rigidity,

strength and attractive and decorative appear-' ance. Further, itreduces to a minimum the necessity of any finishing, machining orshaping operations performed upon the material after it has been shapedby the initial molding thereof.

The legs I6 of the article of furniture are preferably constructed asillustrated in Fig. 1. In this form the legs each comprise a moldedelongated hollow structure preferably tapered as shown and having a mainlower body portion 42 having a comparatively thick wall, and an upperreduced wall portion 44 defining a cavity above the portion 42. Theportion 42 will preferably have a cylindrical bore therethrough withinwhich an extension member, such as a metal rod 46, may fit slidably forguided vertical adjustment. A transverse wall 48 spans the upper endportion of the leg structure spaced below its end and cooperating withthe side walls 44 to define an end socket or recess adapted to fitaround a body 50 in the form of a plug secured to the bottom surface ofthe panel l8 of the chair seat by bonding or fusing. The inner surfacesof the socket will preferably be shaped to conform and fitsnugly uponand around the plug 5!} and may be fused or bonded thereto for thepurpose of assembly of the parts. Alternatively, the plug or plugs 53may have the head portion 52 of a bolt imbedded therein so that itsshank projects downwardly therefrom for passage through an aperture inthe transverse wall 48, 50 that a nut may be threaded upon the lower endof the shank of the bolt as shown in Fig. 2. In the forms using themechanical interlock, a cut-out 54 will preferably be formed in the wall44 of the chair leg so that access may be had to the interior cavity ofthe leg for adjustment and manipulation of the nut upon the bolt. Ametal cupshaped fitting 56 fits around the lower end portion of the legand is adapted to mount and anchor a set screw 58 adapted for endbearing engagement with the rod or bar 46 for the purpose of anchoringsaid bar fixedly in selected adjustment endwise to the leg unit H3. Thebar 46 preferably has a part-spherical head 60 formed at its lower end,and a foot portion 62 of any suitable construction is provided with asocket to have a swivel or universal connection with said head 60.

It will be apparent that the leg construction described has considerablestrength by virtue of its tubular form, it being understood that thesame may be made of fiber glass or other plastic or resin materialshaped ormolded to desired contour. The anchorage or connection of theleg with the seat, or, in the case of a table, with the table top, isfirm and solid. The leg is adapted for longitudinal adjustment, as willbe apparent, the adjusted or extended shape of the leg being illustratedin dotted lines at the left inFig. 2. The extent to which the'leg isadjustable may vary, and the bar 46 may be locked in any extendedposition by the manipulation of the set screw. One of thecharacteristics of this construction is the elongated tubular guide forthe bar 46 formed by the portion 42 of the leg structure. Anotherimportant characteristic of the construction is that the swivel oruniversal joint which mounts the foot 62 accommodates the firm andstable bearing of the bottom of the leg upon any irregularity in thecontour of a supporting surface,

The chair may be provided with an armrest, as illustrated in Fig. 5 andat the left in Fig. 3. Such armrest may be molded or shaped from thesame fiber glass, thermoplastic resin or thermosetting plastic materialmentioned above with a suitable cross-sectional configuration of theparts thereof to produce the required strength. As

' here illustrated, each armrest is formed in one unitary and integralpart having uprights III, the upper armrest l2 and a bottom plateportion I l which bears against the bottom of the panel [8 of the chairseat. The plate portion 14 is shaped or contoured to correspond withthe. shape 'or contour of the bottom surface of the panel I8 and is ofsubstantial size or area, as best illustrated in Fig. 3, so that byfusing or bonding thereof to the seat panel l8 a firm and rigidconstruction results. The uprights 'Hl may be formed of any desiredcurvature or contour and preferably are longitudinally curved in anupward direction adjacent the seat and then converge upwardly andinwardly so that the upper portion 12 assumes the lateral position bestshown in Fig. The marginal flanges 20 at the sides of the seat H! arecut away at 16 to accommodate the assembly of the armrest units with thechair seat and to facilitate the positioning of the parts as described.

Where the terms bonding or fusing are used herein, it will be understoodthat they refer to the use of any material which may be used with thethermoplastic resin or the thermosetting plastic for the purpose ofeffecting a bond. Thus in the case of thermoplastic resins, the bondingagent may include a solvent for the resin which permits the integralbonding or joining of the engaging resin parts which have been softenedby the application of the bonding agent. Other types of bonding agentswhich are suitable for the effecting of a fused or bonded joint may beused, if desired.

While the invention has been described and illustrated herein as appliedto the construction of a chair, it will be understood that the same isapplicable to any other article of furniture which is mounted upon legsor pedestals, such as a table, a stand or the like. Thesame'construction of leg may be used in such articles of furniture, andthe various parts, such as the table or tray top, may be molded andshaped, and may be anchored or supported upon the ends of the legs inthe same manner illustrated and described herein for mounting the chairseat upon the legs.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed herein, it will be understood that changes in the constructionmay be made within the scope of the appended claims without departingfrom the spirit 'of the invention.

We claim:

1. An article of furniture comprising a plurality of legs and asubstantially horizontal seat panel supported on and secured to saidlegs, each of said legs-and seat panel being formed separately fromrigid plastic material, each leg having a socket formed in the upper endthereof defined by an integral longitudinal tubular portion and atransverse portion spaced inwardly from the upper edge of said tubularportion, and a plurality of depending portions fused to the bottom ofsaid seat panel and each of a size and shape to fit snugly in said legsocket in face engagesment with said tubular and transverse portions,said depending portion and 1eg socket portions being fused together.

2. An article of furniture comprising a plurality of legs and asubstantially horizontal seat panel supported on and secured to saidlegs, each of said legs and seat panel being formed separately fromrigid plasticmaterial, each leghaving a socket formed in the upper endthereof defined by an in tegral longitudinal tubular portion and atransverse portion spaced inwardly from the upper edge of said tubularportion, and a plurality of depending portions fused to the bottom ofsaid seat panel and each of a size and shape to fit snugly in said legsocket in face engagement with said tubular and transverse portions, atleast the up per end of each leg being hollow, said hollow part beingspanned by a wall defining said transverse portion.

3. An article of furniture comprising a plurality of legs and asubstantially horizontal seat panel supported on and secured to saidlegs, each of said legs and seat panel being formed separately fromrigid plastic material, each leg having a socket formed in the upper endthereof defined by an integral longitudinal tubular portion and atransverse portion spaced inwardly from the upper edge of said tubularportion, and a plurality of depending portions fused to the bottom ofsaid seat panel and each of a size and shape to fit snugly in said legsocket in face engai ement with said tubular.

and transverse portions. at least the upper end portion of each legbeing hollow and divided and spanned by a wall defining said transverseportion.

a securing member including a part partially embedded in and projectingfrom said depending portion and extending through said wall to mount apart bearing against said wall, said leg having an access opening belowsaid wall.

4. A chair comprising a seat supported in elevated position, a backrest,and a backrest support, each of said parts constituting a molded plasticpanel, said seat and backrest having integral marginal reinforcingflanges interrupted to accommodate and receive said support for faceengagement and bonded connection with the panels thereof, said backrestsupport being of substantially L-shape and having a plurality oflongitudinal integral thickened portions defining reinforcing flanges.

5. A chair comprising a seat supported in elevated position, a backrest,and a backrest support, each of said parts constituting a molded plasticpanel, a molded plastic reinforcing panel bonded to the bottomsurface ofsaid seat, a bolt having a head imbedded in said reinforcing panel and ashank depending therefrom, said support including a forwardly projectinglower portion in face engagement with said reinforcing plate andapertured to receive said shank, and a fastener mounted on the lower endof said shank.

6. A chair comprising a seat supported in elevated position, a backrest,a backrest support and arm rests, each of said parts constituting amolded rigid plastic member, said seat constituting a panel having anintegral depending marginal flange interrupted at its sides and back,each of said arm rests and said support including a substantiallyhorizontal lower end portion passing between the edges of said flangesat said interruptions and bonded in face engagement with the bottomsurface of said seat panel.

HARRY H. CADMAN.

JOHN J. DUCEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 705,653 Davis July 29, 1902842,641 Fernau a June 29, 1907 1,088,468 Smith et al. Feb. 24, 19141,529,589 Matkovic Dec. 23, 1924 1,580,522 Murray Apr. 13, 19261,734,340 Overton Nov. 5, 1929 1,934,746 Stoddard Nov. 13, 19332,359,918 Johnson Oct. 10, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date582,740 Great Britain Nov. 26, 1946

